As previously warned in my hello post I'm back for some advice.
I recently bought a 04 MCS with the JCW dealer add on. It's a little beat up but it was a good price and I kind of think I know what I've got. First issue I noticed was the rough ride. I read the forums and as it had 18" Lexani wheels with run flat tires on I removed them and installed stock 15's with non run flats. Big difference for the daily driver.
I then had a crunching noise pulling out of the drive way when I had the steering at full lock. After further investigation I found that the top strut mounts are both broken. My question is two fold, any advice on what else I should replace at the same time as these and do I have to compress and remove the springs to do so?
I'll go stock just now until I can save some Benjamins to seriously mod the car.

Hope I haven't asked the stupid question up front?

04 MCS JCW Dark Silver metallic and what looks like stock suspension and brakes.

 

This weekend I will be replacing Artoo's struts with Koni's and Ireland fixed camber plates. The camber plates are better and cheaper than stock. And yes, you will have to compress the springs to install the plates but it is easy and there are a number of good sets of instructions around.

It is not a hard job to do and spring compressors are cheap. It can even be done with ratchet straps if you have them.

Rich

 

If the strut mounts are broken, then it is likely that they are mushroomed...when you install the new mounts, you will likely need a hammar and a block of wood to make them flat again.
Since the metal will notbe as strong after it is bent back, camber plates might be a good options, but so are craven strut top defenders..metal plates that sit on top of the struts to prevent them from deforming.
Camber plates might be overkill for a daily driver, but if the price is good, it will improve handling...the Ireland enneginnering fixed camber plates have a good reputation.

 

You can either go with the stock upper strut mounts or do a little upgrade to get you a little more camber as long as your using stock springs and install the IE fixed camber plates.

The only other thing I would install would be a set of strut reinforcement plates to prevent any mushrooming in the future.

 

Thanks for the replies folks all greatly appreciated. I purchased a set of OEM replacements as they were local but before I buy anything else I'll be posting for some advice. I intend to replace them on Sunday, here's hoping I don't find anything else wrong.
I will eventually buy some strut supports not sure which way to go on that yet, either plates or a bar I'll need to read some more first.

Thanks again.

 

I removed my M7 strut tower plates today to check for mushrooming. The plates were on the car when I bought it. I got the plates off and one of the threads was stripped. The mounts are still good, can I just replace the stud? or do I have buy a whole new mount?

 

So today I took a hammer and flattened out the strut tower. I guess when the previous owner installed the M7 plates the towers werent completely flat, causing the threads to strip.

I hammered out the stripped stud and waiting to run to lowes and get a new one. No need to order a new mount